The Commodification of Igbo Traditional Religion: Impacts on Social Cohesion and Ethical Values

Abstract

This paper explores the evolving landscape of Igbo Traditional Religion (ITR) in the context of modern commodification, with a critical focus on its implications for social cohesion and ethical values in southeastern Nigeria. From the earliest times, ITR functioned as a communal institution that reinforced moral values, preserved cultural identity, and maintained social harmony through shared rituals and collective belief systems. However, the contemporary commodification of religious practices as observed in the monetization of traditional practices and services, the commercialization of sacred rituals, and the rise of transactional relationships between traditional priests and votaries have led to a shift from spiritual reverence to materialistic engagement. This transformation has resulted in the erosion of communal religious identity, the proliferation of fraudulent spiritual practices, fake traditional priests and priestesses, ritual killings, kidnapping, and a decline in traditional moral authority and leadership roles. Drawing from Functionalist theoretical frameworks, as well as qualitative data from field observations and secondary literature, this study argues that the commodification of ITR undermines its original ethical foundations and threatens the integrity of Igbo social structures. The paper calls for a reevaluation of traditional religious practices and a renewed emphasis on communal values and ethical responsibility within the framework of Igbo traditional wholeness.